This Men’s Health Month, experts are issuing an urgent warning: millions of people may be living with early-stage heart, kidney, and metabolic conditions without even knowing it. Men may be especially vulnerable to these threats, as they are often less likely to seek preventative healthcare or undergo routine screening until symptoms become severe.
New international research reveals that early heart dysfunction frequently goes undiagnosed. This is a worrying reality in South Africa, where hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease are already widespread.
High blood pressure affects nearly one in three South African adults. However, many remain unaware of their condition or are not adequately controlled. This creates a dangerous ripple effect, increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and diabetes-related complications.
Understanding CKM syndrome
What makes this clinical picture particularly concerning is how interconnected these conditions are. Doctors now refer to this cluster as cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. This term describes how heart disease, kidney disease, and metabolic disorders like diabetes do not occur in isolation, but rather fuel one another. For instance, hypertension can damage blood vessels in the kidneys, while poorly controlled blood sugar accelerates both heart and kidney damage.
Furthermore, growing evidence points to a link between low testosterone levels and metabolic syndrome, especially in older men. Research published in the International Journal of Molecular Science shows that men with insulin resistance often tend to have lower overall testosterone levels, while weight gain itself may contribute to a drop in testosterone.
Some studies suggest that testosterone replacement therapy could help improve certain metabolic markers, including waist circumference and triglyceride levels (a type of fat found in the blood), both of which are linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
According to clinicians, delayed diagnosis remains one of the biggest challenges because many patients only seek care when symptoms become severe, by which time organ damage may already be advanced. Chronic kidney disease often develops silently, with symptoms only appearing in later stages.
“By the time clinicians see patients with complications, they are often managing damage rather than preventing it,” says Ingrid Singels, associate director of scientific products at Pharma Dynamics. “That’s why early detection and a broader view of risk factors are so critical.”
Studies show that hypertension and diabetes are leading contributors to chronic kidney disease, with both conditions frequently underdiagnosed or poorly managed. Additionally, socioeconomic barriers, limited access to routine screening, and low awareness contribute to delayed diagnosis.
Men’s health 101: Knowing your numbers
To combat this, health experts urge South Africans to regularly check their vital metrics. Screening is highly accessible; blood pressure checks are available at pharmacies, clinics, and GP practices, while blood glucose and kidney function tests (eGFR or creatinine) can be performed via simple blood tests.
“Rather than focusing on a single issue, like high blood pressure alone, healthcare providers are now targeting the broader cardiometabolic risk profile,” Singels explains. “This means addressing blood pressure, cholesterol, kidney health and lifestyle factors together to reduce the overall risk of serious complications.”
Investing in your health isn’t about avoiding illness; it’s about fuelling energy, focus and resilience that keep you at your best all year round. Medshield recommends this performance guide for the key metrics you need to track:
- Blood pressure: An optimal reading should be below 120/80 mmHg. It functions as a performance multiplier, enabling clear thinking and better endurance.
- Cholesterol: Aim for a total cholesterol to HDL ratio below 4.5 to ensure healthy circulation, consistent energy, and sharper mental performance.
- Blood glucose: A healthy fasting blood glucose reading is below 5.6 mmol/L. Regulated levels prevent afternoon crashes and brain fog.
- PSA test (Age 40+): This annual blood test screens for prostate cancer by measuring Prostate-Specific Antigen, catching issues when treatment options are widest.
- Testosterone: This hormone drives muscle synthesis, energy, and mood. It declines by roughly 1% per year from around age 30 but responds strongly to resistance training, quality sleep, and a healthy weight.
- Waist circumference: Staying below 94cm helps manage visceral fat, the metabolically active fat stored around abdominal organs that influences inflammation and insulin sensitivity.
Taking action
Detecting these conditions early can greatly reduce the risk of serious complications. Small, consistent lifestyle changes have a meaningful impact.
Singels recommends controlling blood pressure, managing blood sugar with a diabetic-friendly diet, reducing salt intake (which exceeds recommended levels in South Africa), maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, limiting alcohol, avoiding tobacco, and following prescribed treatments.
“Screening is quick, accessible and potentially lifesaving. It’s one of the most practical steps anyone can take to protect their long-term health,” emphasises Singels.
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